10 July 2026
The Trust, which runs the county’s acute hospitals, held a celebration to mark the contribution of their members of staff who have clocked up more than 1,500 years NHS service.
Over 50 members of staff from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) gathered with members of the hospitals’ executive team to celebrate their 25, 40 and an incredible 50 years’ service.
This annual celebration included a particularly special milestone as more than 20 Filipino nurses marked 25 years of service after arriving in Shropshire together in 2001 as part of an international recruitment programme.
Over the past quarter of a century, the group has made a lasting contribution to patient care across a wide range of specialties, developing their careers while supporting thousands of patients and helping to shape services across the Trust.
Anna Rowley joined SaTH in 2001 after moving from the Philippines, where she had worked as a Staff Nurse in a private hospital.
She began her career at the Trust on Ward 6 at PRH and has dedicated her entire 25-year career to cardiology. In 2020, Anna joined the Heart Assessment Team, where she now focuses on caring for patients with heart failure and supporting cardiac rehabilitation.
One of Anna’s proudest moments came in 2009 when she received the Chairman’s Award following a patient nomination recognising the exceptional care and support she provided during a difficult hospital admission.
Reflecting on her career, Anna said she is proud to have spent 25 years caring for patients and making a difference to their experiences during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
Clinical Site Manager Jocy Lynn Victorino was among the nurses who travelled from the Philippines to Shropshire in 2001 to begin her NHS career.
Jocy started her career in the Acute Medical Unit, where she developed the knowledge, experience and clinical decision-making skills that would help her progress into senior leadership roles.
Twenty-five years later, she is a member of the Clinical Site Management Team and has built a life in Shropshire with her husband and son.
Jocy said: “The journey that started 25 years ago, across continents, continues to bring new horizons. I have established lifelong friendships and now planted my roots here with my son and my husband.”
She added: “Cheers to 25 years of service to SaTH.”
Jo Williams, Group Chief Executive, said: “Reaching 25, 40 or 50 years of NHS service is a tremendous achievement and reflects unwavering dedication to patients, colleagues and our communities.
“This year’s celebration was particularly special as we recognised a cohort of Filipino nurses who joined the Trust together in 2001 and are now marking 25 years of service. Their contribution has touched countless lives and demonstrates the talent, compassion and commitment that international colleagues bring to our organisation.
“We were also proud to celebrate colleagues who have dedicated 40 and even 50 years of service to the NHS. Collectively, our long-service award recipients have contributed more than 1,500 years of service, which is an extraordinary achievement. On behalf of the Trust, I would like to thank every one of them for their commitment and the difference they make every day.”